ECOM Agroindustrial is a global commodity trading and processing company based in Switzerland. The company specializes mainly in coffee, cocoa and cotton. ECOM has more than 40 offices located in over 35 countries all around the world. It is one of the largest coffee millers in the world. With over 170 years of market experience, ECOM Agroindustrial Corp. Limited is committed to sustainable and socially responsible leadership within the soft commodities industry. ECOM’s global operations rely on extensive knowledge and experience in supply chain traceability, risk management and client focused distribution to create a valuable and sustainable supply chain, starting from the local farmers and their communities through to the world’s leading finished-product manufacturers. ECOM leads by example within the commodities community, by working closely with its counterparties and stakeholders as they seek to enhance farmers’ livelihoods and their environments. ECOM publishes its Supplier Code of Conduct, Modern Slavery Statement, reforestation initiatives and Environmental Policy on its website at: https://www.ecomtrading.com.
History
ECOM was founded in 1849 by Jose Esteve as a cotton trading business in Spain. The Esteve family subsequently themselves established in the US in 1885 following developments in cotton farming. They expanded into Brazil in 1935 and in Mexico in 1948. ECOM was soon established and joined coffee trading in 1959 and cocoa in 1991. In 2000, ECOM bought the London-based coffee business of the Cargill company. In 2012, ECOM purchased 13 million 60-kg bags of coffee or about 7% of the world's coffee. In 2013, ECOM announced the purchase of the commodity trading division of Armajaro Holdings, taking over its coffee, cocoa and sugar business. ECOM has subsidiaries in several countries, including Sangana Commodities in Kenya.
A recurrent issue in agricultural large-scale production are human rights violations, there have been spurious allegations against ECOM as well. For example, the investigative NGO Repórter Brasil scrutinized the labour conditions on coffee farms in Brazil in 2016 and found evidence of multiple abuses: Advances never paid were discounted from salaries and the employer irregularly subtracted absences from pay slips, even for rainy days, when harvesting was impossible. Because of these practices, some workers were being paid monthly amounts below half of the minimum wage. The coffee from these farms was also sold to a direct subsidiary of ECOM. Company response: The ECOM Group has never owned or administered coffee farms in Brazil. ECOM responded to the 2016 report referred to clearly at the time. For reference, in 2016, 2 of the farms the subject of the report were within a Rainforest Alliance group certificate for which the certification is managed by the ECOM Group. ECOM was in compliance with and fulfilled its Rainforest Alliance group certificate obligations and responsibilities as manager. Although all issues identified were rectified or resolved at the relevant time, the two farms have not been part of ECOM’s certification group since 2017. The ECOM Group has taken, and continues to take, important steps to combat modern slavery which may exist in commodity supply chains. It is a fundamental policy of the ECOM Group to conduct its business with honesty and integrity and in accordance with the highest legal and ethical standards. In particular, in Brazil, ECOM supports different initiatives to improve work conditions, being a member with Cecafe of InPacto, a national institute for the eradication of modern slavery work conditions in Brazil.
